Buttar, William Shaw (1867-1938)

William Shaw Buttar was a chartered accountant. He lived at 2067 Pendrell Street from 1910 to 1913 and from 1916 to 1921.

He was born in Corston, Coupar Angus, Scotland, on July 19, 1867. His parents were David Buttar and Amelia (or Emily) Rattray Shaw, who were married in June 1860.

William went to Dundee and Edinburgh Universities, and became an accountant. He came to Canada about 1905.

He first appeared in the Vancouver directories in 1906, working as a chartered accountant. He was a sole practitioner, with an office in the “Old Safe Block” at 536 West Hastings, near Seymour Street. He was rooming at 661 Granville Street.

By 1907, he was living at 1281 Broughton Street. He had established a partnership with Hall Campbell Chiene (1874-1956), who was also from Scotland. They described themselves as “chartered accountants, auditors and assignees.” In 1915, Robert Bell (1886-1982) began working with the firm of Buttar and Chiene. He was also an accountant from Scotland; he stayed with the firm until about 1927.

By 1909, William was living in the Granville Mansions at 715 Robson Street.

On February 16, 1910, in Vancouver, he married Constance Dewar Morris. She was born on January 29, 1883, in Hamilton, Ontario. Her father was Henry Hume Morris (1853-1936); her mother was Fanny Louise Dewar (1850-1900). Henry Hume Morris was the local superintendent of the branches of the Canadian Bank of Commerce. The Morris family lived at 1833 Haro Street. Constance’s sister, Kathleen Hume Morris, married Richard Bell-Irving, who lived at 1847 Barclay Street from 1920 to 1938.

William belonged to the Vancouver Club, the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, the Jericho Country Club, and the Vancouver Motor Club. In 1919 and 1920, William was the president of the Institute of British Columbia Chartered Accountants.

William died in Vancouver on August 25, 1938. He was buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver.

Constance was a member of the Georgian Club. She lived to the age of 103. She died in Vancouver on March 15, 1986.

“W.S. Buttar’s Funeral Saturday,” Vancouver Province, August 26, 1938, page 15: “Funeral services for William S. Buttar, 7250 Oak street, who died in hospital Thursday following a lengthy illness, will be conducted privately from the family residence at 12:30 noon Saturday, with Rev. C.C. Owen officiating. Interment will be in Mountain View Cemetery. Born in Scotland, Mr. Buttar came to Vancouver in 1905. He was a graduate of Edinburgh University. Shortly after his arrival in the city he set up a partnership with H.C. Chiene, and since 1906 the firm of Buttar & Chiene have been well-known chartered accountants. His wife is the only survivor.”

“Pioneer B.C. Accountant Dies at 82,” Vancouver Sun, September 26, 1956, page 22: “Funeral services will be held Monday for Hall Campbell ‘Sonny’ Chiene, sportsman and pioneer Vancouver chartered accountant., who died suddenly Wednesday. Mr. Chiene collapsed and died while walking to his home at 990 Lagoon Drive. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and came to Canada in 1906, setting up his chartered accountant’s office next door to the late W.S. Buttar, also of Edinburgh. They formed a partnership in 1907. There was never a word of writing about the partnership except the sign on the door of their office. In later years, Mir Chiene’s partner was Douglas Walker and Mr. Chiene had worked in his office until a short time before his death. Mr. Chiene was past president of the B.C. Institute of Chartered Accountants. He was also a member of the board of governors of Vancouver General Hospital, one of the founder of Jericho Club [sic]and Country Club, and a life member of the Vancouver Club. Mr. Chiene was a familiar figure around Vancouver race tracks where he served as a voluntary judge. He is survived by his widow, Mary, at the family home. Service will be held in Center and Hanna Chapel at 1:30 p.m., Rev. Murdo Nicolson officiating. Cremation will follow.”

Hall Campbell Chiene, death notice, Vancouver Province, September 21, 1956, page 33: “Chiene – Hall Campbell (sonny) son of the late prof. John Chiene of Edinburgh, Scotland, in his 83rd year, died suddenly September 19, 1956. Survived by his wife. Funeral service Monday, September 24, at 1:30 p.m. in Center & Hanna’s Chapel. The Rev. M. Nicolson officiating, followed by cremation. No flowers by request.”